Democrats carry a symbolic blow to the wall Trump is desired

The House of Representatives adopted the resolution that cancels the national emergency terminated by Trump to justify the financing of a wall on the Mexican border.

By Stephanie Le Bars Posted today at 03:53

Time from Read 3 min.

US President Donald Trump launches the Air Force One aircraft on February 25. SAUL LOEB / AFP

The voice was unanimous among the Democrats and thirteen Republicans joined them. By making 242 votes at 182, Tuesday, February 26, a decision to cancel Donald Trump's national emergency, justifying the financing of a wall on the Mexico border The elected representatives of the House of Representatives, mainly Democratic Since early January, made a symbolic blow to one of the most controversial ads of the President of the United States. Officials have never claimed that a presidential national emergency statement should be lifted, a procedure used 58 times since its inception in 1976.

See also: What is "state of the art"? National Emergency "?

Tuesday's vote in no way condemns the future of the text, which still has to be in the Senate, held by Republicans. But with this process, the Democrats have achieved several goals: they have & # 39, a position which Donald Trump defended during his campaign and since his election on the need to build a wall paid by Mexico ] "To protect the country against immigrants and drug trafficking; They were also able to claim their attachment to the Constitution, as it wanted money for other measures (including military) to fund the wall, although Congress refused, no was not constitutional.

Article reserved for our subscribers Also read In the United States, the struggle over the state of emergency began

Skepticism among Republicans

«Our founders [les pères de la Constitution] have & # 39; had a good vision. They did not want a king " said Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House of Representatives. Eventually, this initiative of the Democrats forced their Republican colleagues to position themselves at & # 39; presidential decree that does not approve of everyone

The justification, repeated by the White House on Tuesday, from a humanitarian and security emergency on the border with Mexico threatening national security " never convince the Democrats. But it also leaves some Republicans skeptical. Florida Senator Marco Rubio proposed the separation of powers and was concerned that expenses were used for other purposes than those for which they were voted. " We do not solve a problem by creating a new one ". " No crisis justifying violating the Constitution ", he also declared a few days ago.

Longer term also fears that the decision of Mr. Trump has made a precedent, probably weakening the privileges of Congress. Future presidents may use the national emergency procedure to implement measures of their choice, the funding of which would have been rejected by the elected representatives.

The threat of a veto

In the case of the House and Senate passed, Trump promises to veto this, a procedure that has never before been chaired by him. All three of the 53 senators have already indicated that they will surely vote with the Democrats, or probably, while an ordinary majority of 51 votes will suffice. Nevertheless, the current balance of Congress will not allow to close the presidential veto, which requires a two-thirds majority. In this case, justice can take over from elected officials. Sixteen countries have filed a complaint against the presidential decision. It can go back to the Supreme Court.

This subject of tension between Mr. Trump and the elected Democrats go back a few months. He wanted to promise his campaign, favorably seen through his base. The president asked nearly $ 6 billion to erect the wall. A request by the Democrats rejected. Mr. Trump's refusal of a compromise in December led to the longest closure (partial closure of the federal government) of American history.

See also: Five things to know about the wall on the border between Mexico and the US that Trump wants to expand.

Finally, Republicans and Democrats reached an agreement in Congress providing for an envelope of nearly $ 1.4 billion for construction 80 km from "barriers", where mr. Trump asked 320km from the wall. " Mécontent " agreed the president to sign this financing law for " new avoidance" but had the national emergency mid February. According to a survey released by NPR public radio on February 19, 61% of the US President's vote decides, 36% support it.